002; video

[beathach]

Who: Hank McCoy and Erik Lehnsherr
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: crashed ship
When: today!

[when the feed opens, the network is gifted with the bickering of two men]

I don't see why you can't do this.

[Erik is the one visible on screen, and he doesn’t look pleased about it at all. He jerks his chin towards the wall next to him, irritated.]

Because it’s your idea, and I don’t want to.

[the huff that follows is a little on the growly side]

I’m here to open paths, not send out messages. [As if to punctuate this point, Erik turns away from the camera and swipes his hand through the air. The metal wall crumples to the side with a shriek, curling up on itself like a ringpull.

The camera shifts off of Erik with a muttered "show off" to the plant life spilling out of the side of the hull, and a clawed, blue foot comes into frame to poke at a nearby pumpkin]

In any case - Erik and I are at the crashed ship, if anyone would like us to bring some of these back. If you're interested, feel free to message one of us.

As for the ship - if anyone else is planning to come out here, be careful. There's ways into the ship, but it has been here a while, so it's falling apart. We'll try to get some information about the signal while we're here, though so far we haven't had much luck.

[the camera moves back to Erik]

Do you have anything you want to add?

[Erik’s mostly occupied with pointing his flashlight into the gloom of the area beyond the wall. He does give a curt response.]

No requests for pumpkins bigger than the usual Earth-size.

Comments

[passingthrough]

What else could it possibly mean, Hank? [Of course she knows.]

[beathach]

He means ones we can actually carry.

[passingthrough]

Maybe I just have more faith in you guys than you have in yourselves. [If that's true after the horseman reveal then Erik really needs to work on his self esteem.]

[beathach]

You're overestimating how strong I am.

. . . and Erik just won't do it.

[passingthrough]

You're going to have to make it up to me now. [This is how logic works. Somehow.]

[beathach]

I'll bring you back a couple of regular pumpkins.

[passingthrough]

It's very sizest of you to assume the giant ones aren't regular. [She has so much sass to catch up on, Hank.]

[beathach]

[there's so much sass. Thankfully Hank is more than up for handling it with his usual brattiness]

Just for that I'm bringing back the smallest ones I can find.

[passingthrough]

You know the worst part? I already brought back a couple of pumpkins. I zipped there and back. [Oh, did you like your long trek?]

[beathach]

Has anyone ever told you that you're a brat? [he obviously doesn't mean it]

You missed a very unexciting and dark hike.

[passingthrough]

Better question: has anyone not?

It sounds thrilling though. I'm glad you didn't have to miss that.

[beathach]

Point.

According to some other brats, I'm bonding with Erik. So at least there's that.

[passingthrough]

[Did someone open a window and let awkward in here?] How's, um, how's that going?

[beathach]

[not this guy, for all that he knows it's a little awkward. He briefly glances off screen and steps away to afford them a bit of privacy]

When it actually happens, I'll let you know.

It's been fine, though. We work pretty well together, and I thought he might like to get off the ship for a few days.

[passingthrough]

Were you...? I mean before the latest 10 years would you have said you were bonded? Bond-y? Bond-ish? [He did stand up for Erik to her when she contacted him after finding out. There must be...something between them.]

[beathach]

[that's a difficult question, and he steps even further away as he thinks about his answer. After a moment he huffs out a noise and runs his free hand through his hair]

Neither of us are really the bonding type. I would have said we were close, though. Friends. [a knowing look] We weren't close or - "bonded" in the sense that we'd go to each other with our problems. Not - that I couldn't if I wanted to, I've asked for his advice a couple of times. It's an option, just one neither of us really turn to.

[a lighter tone] I know him better than I did before Kyriakos, and that helped a lot. That's the real question you should be asking - what I thought of him before I lost my memories.

[passingthrough]

That's something. [She considers it. Wondering how close she feels to him and felt to him and how much was really her Erik in the way.]

Sooo... What did you think of him before you lost your memories? [You did say to ask.]

[beathach]

Mm, an important something. [it helped him forgive Erik for a lot of things - or at least, put it behind him instead.

He knew she'd ask, and he keeps a straight face - even if it keeps threatening to split into a grin]

I didn't like him all that much. We never really tried to get to know each other, but every time we spoke it seemed like - we just rubbed each other the wrong way.

[he rubs at the back of his neck a little awkwardly] He complimented me once, shortly after I enhanced my mutation, and I thought he was making fun of me. So I - uh, snapped and strangled him a little bit.

That sums it up fairly well, I think.

[passingthrough]

You...strangled him? [That is not something she can picture or fully process and she looks stunned. She can't see it with this Hank. Dark Beast? Absolutely. But this one...well, did she separate them so far in her mind that she took out any semblance of anger and revenge? Any darker thing that might echo back to the man she'd gladly still toss out an airlock given the chance.]

[beathach]

I - thought he was mocking me. I was still upset over what happened.

. . . [he clears his throat] That's when Alex nicknamed me "Beast".

[passingthrough]

[It's not something she ever really had to experience. Oh, she had some bad shit go down, but she was the youngest by far of the X-Men and she'd lost her family. They weren't teasing or harassing her. And her power is invisible. She can "pass" for "normal."] You don't like the name? Why did you keep it?

[beathach]

[his expression sobers a little as he shakes his head]

No, I don't mind it. I never really gave it much thought after that, really.

But - I wouldn't want to get rid of it. Not now. Not that I ever did, but -

[passingthrough]

But? [There are things she could guess to fill in the blank about it feeling familiar or like it's his. Or even a shield to protect himself against others trying to call him things like that. But she wants to hear his answer.]

[beathach]

[he's quiet for a long few moments before he shakes his head]

I just - I wouldn't get rid of it now.

[he doesn't want to talk about the reasons why over the network]

[passingthrough]

[There's a pause before she nods. It feels like there's more there, but if he doesn't want to share she won't push.]

So...

Pumpkin pie could be a thing. You should see if there are any whipped cream plants there. [Getting back on track?]